Did Amazon screw anybody else?

[bhsup]

I preordered 8 days in advance via the Amazon link that was previously above. I even paid for overnight shipping (though since I got a complimentary Amazon priority membership, it didn't cost much) to get it by today at the latest. I was actually hoping I would have gotten it yesterday, but just assumed today.

This morning I log onto amazon.com to discover that my order hasn't even shipped yet. I call up to find out why and they say they are having issues with the supplier and don't have any to send out. NO email in advance to tell me of this issue, no notification whatsoever. Just me wondering where my game is. Wonderful service. Needless to say, order cancelled and I'll just drive 50 miles out of my way after work tonight to get it from CompUSA.

Anyhoo, has anyone received their game from Amazon.com?

 

[IglooDame]

I got roughly the same treatment from Amazon for the initial Civ4 (are we calling it Vanilla yet?), so this time resolved to do from the start what I ended up doing last time - going to my local EB Games as soon as I heard from them that it's available.

Then I decided that I wouldn't buy the game until I've lost 5 pounds, and now I'm thinking maybe I'll buy the game, but leave it shrink-wrapped at work until I lose 5 pounds.

Anyway VRWC, I'm reading in the Civ4 forum that pretty much no store had the game yesterday, and most are expecting it only this afternoon at the earliest.

 

[bhsup]

The main issue with me is the total lack of communication on Amazon's part. I would have been more than willing to wait if they had at least kept in contact and let me know what was going on. Oh well...

 

[MamboJoel]

That's a shame. Never had any problem with them though. Good to know.

 

[steviejay]

I remember when PTW was coming out. I ordered it months in advance and when it was finally shipped I was almost giddy with excitement, the package arrives, I open it and........ it's Vanilla Civ3 phone calls and threatening emails and a few days later I get PTW

Conquests is announced, preorder it, comes out, mailed to me, open the box..... Vanilla Civ 3 needless to say I was quite EXTRODINARILY pissed.

name of company ommited to protect the ignorant. it wasn't Amazon though

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I try to avoid Amazon wherever possible. I mainly only use them when the the things are either siginificantly cheaper or not availible anywhere else (ie Play.com) I had to use them to get a Batman Begins 2 disc edition. I also bought the Hornblower tv series boxset from them. It was £30 a year ago, it's now £90. I lucked out on that one.

 

[.Shane.]

The main issue with me is the total lack of communication on Amazon's part. I would have been more than willing to wait if they had at least kept in contact and let me know what was going on. Oh well...

VRCW, just get it at a gaming store and cancel the order, that's what I'm gonna do.

 

[El_Machinae]

the 3/33 rule. A satisfied customer will tell three people, and dissatisfied customer will tell 33.

But, don't hold it against Amazon's leadership:

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' plans to build a multimillion-dollar suborbital spaceport on his West Texas ranch are due for a rare public airing on Tuesday in the closest town, 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of the launch site.

Blue Origin said it planned to begin flight tests by the end of the year — leading to commercial spaceflights in 2010. The guy is busy.

 

[bhsup]

VRCW, just get it at a gaming store and cancel the order, that's what I'm gonna do.

Oh, I did cancel. The second they told me they didn't have it in stock yet. Now, if they had had the decency to email me the moment they knew there would be a delay, I would have waited.

the 3/33 rule. A satisfied customer will tell three people, and dissatisfied customer will tell 33.

Or 3,333.

 

[El_Machinae]

We'll just watch the viewcount, then, right?

I like that you're complaining (and acting) regarding the bad customer service, instead of on the (probably unavoidable) human error involved.

That takes class.

 

[Dionysius]

why bother pre-ordering? i live in the most obscure place imaginable, and the game shop has many copies of Warlords.

 

[Urederra]

I also preordered Civ IV on Amazon, but I selected the free shipping option. Anyway, the order was shipped one or two days after the game was on the computer stores shelves and arrived 3 - 4 days later than I expected. It didn't bother me too much and I didn't complain but I learned my lesson.

I have ordered other thing from amazon after that, but now I know that you cannot expect a rush shipping.


And I don't going to buy Warlords, anyway, I'll wait until the real expansion.


EDIT: Anyway, I preordered because I thought It was the only way to obtain the collector edition, with the tech-tree poster, now obsolete, and the CD with the music of the game.

 

[Masquerouge]

I do not use Amazon when I want to get something the first day it's out. I had to cancel a couple of orders because the game was not even shipped on the day it released. so now I simply go to a game store.
I still use Amazon when I want to get books, though.

 

[.Shane.]

Got it! Cancelled Amazon order.

 

[JtheJackal]

I love Amazon, it takes basically two days to get to me after whatever I ordered ships. Even if I pick 7-8 days shipping.

 

[The 777 Hoax]

Crap. They better not do that with the CD I pre-ordered.

 

[Godwynn]

I've never had any problems with Amazon.

Must be good luck.

 

[bhsup]

Oh hey, don't get me wrong here. I'm not cutting my ties with Amazon at all. But poor customer service deserves to be publicized. I don't begrudge them issues with supplies as that is out of their hands, but as El Mac pointed out, it's the customer service.

And since I blasted them for the lack of previous communication, I would like to give a kudos to Amazon for their prompt apology email they sent me after I cancelled my order. They apologized for the lack of previous correspondence and set me up with a $5.00 certificate that I can redeem on my next purchase. So at least a thumbs up for their desire to make me happy with the whole situation.

 

[Tomoyo]

I ordered four books from Amazon, due to come today, and... I got three.

The one I didn't get was Mossy's book, too!

Well, they said it should come by Thursday.